PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Don Handle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Don Handle has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Handle
vs
Maia

190 cm
21
235 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

187 cm
22
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Don Handle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Maia!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maia closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Maia working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Handle wants to control but Maia postures up.
Handle manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Handle is trying to maintain the position but Maia is very close to passing his half guard.

Maia is looking for a kimura but Handle is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maia to get the leverage.

Maia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Maia looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Handle regains full guard. Nicely done.
Handle looking for a sweep. Not yet Handle, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Handle controlling Maia's posture.

Maia is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Handle keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Handle is looking to stand up but Maia isn't so interested in that idea.
Handle wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.
Maia wants to pass the guard but Handle is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maia fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Maia keeps the fight on the outside.
Maia swats away the attempt to clinch by Handle.

Handle clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Handle breaks the clinch.
Maia shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Handle feints and as Maia raises his hands in defense, Handle changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Maia wants to sweep here but Handle controlling him for the moment.
Handle is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Handle wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.

Maia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Handle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maia is keeping the position for now.
Handle wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Maia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Handle trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Maia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Maia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maia looks gassed!

Maia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Maia can't keep his opponent in guard - Handle advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Handle wants to take a breather but Maia is having none of it.
Maia is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Don Handle will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maia misses with a wild combination.

Maia gets caught flat footed, as Handle shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Handle wants to pass the guard but Maia is keeping the position.

Handle stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Handle shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Maia napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Handle working away.
Maia is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Handle off and has taken his back!

Maia is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Maia is breathing heavily.
Handle tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Maia goes for an armbar but Handle turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Handle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Handle trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.
Handle slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Handle has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Handle trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.

Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Don Handle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Handle is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Maia is trying to control the position but Handle postures up.
Handle wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Handle is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Handle is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Maia has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Handle is looking to defend but Maia has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Handle! Maia pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Handle taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Thiago Maia!